News & Updates

June eNews: A Big Thank-you to Everyone who Helped with Bonanza Flat

Post Date:06/28/2017 12:10 PM

BONANZA FLAT WITHIN REACH!

A tremendous thank you to the thousands of people and organizations who helped save Bonanza Flat

Friends,

This Thursday marks a very important milestone for the greater Wasatch community. On June 15, Park City Municipal—supported by a broad and deep regional coalition—will officially purchase Bonanza Flat. This would not have been possible without the tremendous support from the thousands of you who donated, raised awareness, and communicated your passion to your elected officials.

We would not be where we are today were it not for my fellow Parkites, who began the process by approving the $25-million bond last November (when the purchase was just in the theoretical stage). Your original vision is what made this possible.

I always had faith that our community—the entire Wasatch Front and Back—would pull together to save this land. Yet I’m still moved by the amount of funds raised in such a compressed timeframe. In five short months, more than 3,500 people, businesses, organizations and institutions raised close to $13 million.

The fundraising effort was championed by Wendy Fisher and her colleagues at Utah Open Lands, and they deserve tremendous credit. The 11-member coalition—including Mountain Trails Foundation, Friends of Alta, Sierra Club of Utah, Save our Canyons, Summit Land Conservancy, and others—spread the word and their supporters responded, especially on the Wasatch Front. Individual community members—including artists, musicians, and business owners—also brought their collective talents and efforts to bear, and the result was nothing short of magical.

I also extend a special thank-you to my fellow elected officials who represent Summit, Wasatch, and Salt Lake Counties and the cities of Midway and Salt Lake. And I am grateful to the public utilities and state agencies—including the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy, and the Utah Reclamation Mitigation Conservation Commission—for helping fund preservation rather than treatment as a means of providing safe drinking water.

And finally, thank you again for putting your faith in Park City to serve as responsible stewards of the land. We promise—I promise—to help preserve Bonanza Flat for its watershed, its pristine habitat, and its aesthetic grandeur, in perpetuity. This wellspring of hope and trust will be our gift to our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren. We have all made the world just a little bit better.

To learn more about the people and institutions who raised money to save Bonanza Flat, you can read the press release here. And if you haven’t made your donation yet, Utah Open Lands will be accepting donations in any amount until the end of the day tomorrow.

THREE KEY COMPONENTS OF TRANSIT SYSTEM ROLL OUT THIS MONTH

Electric Xpress and Kamas Connector will launch and PC/SLC Connect services will double, all in support new parking management program that comes online in December.

Three core elements of our expanded transit system will kick into high gear in June. Starting in a few weeks, you’ll be able to catch a bus along one of the following brand-new or expanded routes:

Electric Xpress: Beginning June 23, Utah’s first zero-emission, battery-electric bus fleet will travel up and down SR224. The Xpress route will provide service every 10 minutes from early morning to midnight, seven days a week. Noise from the six-bus electric fleet will be negligible (clocking in at only 57 decibels) and will reduce operating costs to just $.19 a mile: the fuel efficiency of each bus is an impressive 21.4 miles per gas gallon equivalent. By limiting stops to primary origins and destinations, the travel time between the two transit centers will be a speedy seven minutes! Save the Date: Join us for the Electric Xpress ribbon cutting:

Friday, June 23

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Kimball Junction Transit Center 1899, West Ute Boulevard

PC/SLC Connect Expansion: On June 26, bus service between Park City and Salt Lake will double from 8-to-16 total daily runs. There will be 4 morning, 1 midday, and 3 evening runs in each direction. “This route enhancement was a high priority among projects funded by the sales tax initiatives,” said Transportation Planning Manager Alfred Knotts. “Reducing trips to and from Salt Lake also ties directly into our City’s climate goals.” Route 902 buses, as they are known, will now terminate at the Kimball Junction Transit Center, rather than the Old Town Transit Center. Passengers can disembark at Kimball Junction and catch the new Electric Xpress down SR224. “The Electric Xpress will work hand in glove with the PC-SLC Connect to bring people up the mountain and into downtown Park City more frequently and rapidly,” said Public Works Director Blake Fonnesbeck. While a transfer is necessary, this shortened route helps offset the increased cost of doubling the number of routes from the Salt Lake Valley. Learn more at the Route 902 website.

Kamas Commuter Route: Also starting June 26, the first of several transit connections from eastern Summit County will roll out. Kamas residents will be able to catch the bus adjacent to Volkers Bakery. With quick service options to Quinn's Junction, Kimball Junction Transit Center, and Park City Transit Center, the commute from Kamas will be fast, easy, and economical.

Riders who use the Kamas Commuter Route or PC/SLC Connect Expansion will also have access to a “Guaranteed Ride Home” program that provides passengers transportation in the event of an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance.

These new programs will also provide alternative solutions once the City’s parking management system comes online in early December. “As people may know, we will start charging for parking in Old Town in December,” said Parking Manager Kenzie Coulson. “But the last thing we want to do is leave people stranded or feeling like they do not have a safe alternative to get back home or to their car parked offsite. So we are making sure to put in place a whole host of options before the paid parking piece is implemented.”

Look for continued updates about these and other programs and monthly community forums in this space and on the City’s website.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the following meetings this month. Follow this link for additional meeting information and agendas.

Can't make it to City Council or Planning Comission in person? Attend virtually or download the recording via the Listen Live link.

PARKITES SHOW THEIR PEDAL POWER ON BIKE TO WORK, SCHOOL & PLAY DAY

On May 19, cities and towns across the country celebrated Bike to Work Day. Not to be outdone, the Park City Council declared the 19th "Bike to Work, School & Play Day." Local students and residents celebrated at events across the City, including at the Olympic Welcome Plaza, Park City Library, and all four Park City School District elementary schools. Highlights included a Park City Municipal bike helmet giveaway for children and a raffle for prizes from local outdoor vendors and resorts. The turnout was the largest to-date for the event.

Collins realizes that one day isn't enough to raise awareness about biking and alternative commuting. "Next year, we plan to have Bike to Work, School & Play Day kick off events that take place all summer long," said Collins. "We want to make jumping on your bike easier than sliding behind the wheel, and creating a network of support and community is a a key step in doing so."

The City and County need your help to develop a world-class alternative-commute system. Please let us know how we can improve busing, biking, and walking options in the region. Engage with us via social media on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels (all @ParkCityGovt, #bikePC), or email Julia Collins at julia.collins@parkcity.org

You can view additional photographs from the day on our Facebook page.

The Barn Door event at McPolin Farm has become a beloved Park City tradition, and this year's event will be especially poignant. The June 24 event will include a ribbon-cutting for the barn, which underwent a Park City Council-supported, $1.2-million renovation and structural upgrade last year. "The barn and homestead hold such an emotional place in the community's heart," said Farm Manager Denise Carey. "Stabilization helps preserve our heritage for generations to come, and we are so excited to finally open up the interior for tours. Visitors will really get a sense of what life was like on a dairy farm 50 years ago."

ROUNDUP OF JUNE SPECIAL EVENTS

Here is a summary of special events in and around Park City that are taking place this month. Please exercise caution when in the event area and plan ahead for road closures, detours, slowdowns, and parking restrictions and costs. Want the most up-to-date event traffic and emergency notification? Text PCEVENTS to 888777 to subscribe to text alerts.

Park Silly Sunday Market: Kicked off Sunday, June 3 and runs through September 17 (no markets August 6 or 13). Lower Main Street. Old Town parking will be limited but free parking at the high school. Take the bus, walk, or bike to the event. (Free bike valet available.)

Noches de Verano Latino Music Series: Mondays, June 5 through July 3. Come celebrate with music, crafts and your neighbors. Events are free and open to the public. South City Park.

Kids Adventure Games: June 17, Park City Mountain Resort. If attending the event, please bus, bike, or walk to the event.

Savor the Summit: June 17, Main Street. Old Town parking will be limited, so park at the high school. Take the bus, walk, or bike to the event. Anticipated participants: 4000

Firecracker Baseball Tournament: June 30-July 3, throughout Park City and Heber.

For a listing of all Park City & Summit County events and activities, please visit the Park City Chamber's events page.

TREES: HOW MOTHER NATURE SEQUESTERS CARBON

Park City is 100 trees richer, thanks to the hard work and dedication of 35 volunteers. On Sunday, June 4, community members came together to plant poplar, birch, dogwood, and pine saplings in the Round Valley open space area. This planting helped jump start the City's carbon sequestration program, which will be a key tool in achieving our net-zero goals. The data and results will help the City expand the program over time. Besides being amazing carbon sinks, the trees (all native species) will provide habitat to flora and fauna as well as shade.

Summer is construction season in Park City! It can be hard to keep all of the projects straight, so Lynn Ware Peek, PCMC's Community Engagement Liaison, is producing a monthly “backhoe report” through September. This online report (with interactive GIS map) provides high-level updates on public and private construction projects or other projects inside City limits that will be visible to or will impact the public in some way. You can view the map and read the summary here. One project of note: the first section of this summer's Main Street sidewalks replacement (outside of the Eating Establishment) is almost done.

JASON GLIDDEN WILL FILL NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT MANAGER POSITION

PCMC is pleased to announce that Jason Glidden, the City’s economic development program manager, has been selected to serve as the City’s new housing development manager.

Park City Municipal has identified “Affordable, Attainable and Middle-income Housing” as a critical priority and set a goal to achieve a 20-percent affordable housing inventory, which equates to roughly 800 new affordable units by 2026. Glidden will work closely with Housing Program Manager Rhoda Stauffer to meet these goals.

“As a 10-year resident of the Park City community, I’m very excited to help create a positive future for affordability in our town,” said Glidden. “Helping provide permanent housing for families and the workforce that keeps our town running will be one of our most important legacies, and I’m honored to have been chosen to assist with this effort.”

WINTER RUNOFF HAS INCREASED FLOOD & HIGH-WATER DANGER

Park City and Summit County residents should be on high alert for the next several weeks and show extreme caution in and around streams and rivers. The excessive winter snowmelt makes the rivers fast flowing, very cold, and very dangerous. Everyone—especially children and pets—should keep a wide berth from riverbanks, as you can be quickly swept away.

Flood danger is also elevated.Sandbags are available at the Park City Public Works front desk (1053 Iron Horse Drive) during business hours. Call 435.615.5301 for more information. After hours, call Police Dispatch at 435.615.5500.

For more information on flood danger, visit the flood page of the U.S. Geological Service.

BE GRILL SMART THIS SUMMER

Summer is right around the corner, which means it’s time for barbecues, picnics, and fun in the sun. While summer usually means vacations, there is no vacation from fire safety. Each year, grill fires cause about $37 million in property damage. Most of the fires happen between May and August. Protect your families and property by following a few grilling safety tips:
• Only use grills outdoors, away from siding and deck railings.
• Clean grills often and remove grease or fat build-up.
• Make sure the gas grill lid is open before lighting.
• Have a three-foot safe-zone around grills and campfires. Keep kids and pets clear of the area.
• Dispose of coals after they have cooled in a metal can.
• Never leave grills, fire pits, and patio torches unattended.For more information on grilling and summer fire safety, please visit the U.S. Fire Administration at www.usfa.fema.gov.

DURING CONSTRUCTION SEASON, TAKE CARE TO PROTECT STORMWATER

Hammers are pounding around Park City, If you have a building under construction or are working on a job site, make sure you adhere to the City's stormwater requirements.As water flows over a construction site, it picks up pollutants such as sediment, debris, vehicle fluid, and chemicals. You should take specific measures can minimize stormwater pollution, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Schedule excavation and grading work for dry weather.

• Use drain covers to keep sediment and washout materials, such as paint, concrete, slurry, mortar, stucco, and plaster from polluting local creeks.

• Clean up spills with kitty litter or absorbent material and dispose as hazardous waste.

• Locate chemical toilets so that if they are damaged or knocked over the contents could not enter a stormwater drainage system.

LATE APPLICATIONS for 4TH of JULY PARADE DUE JUNE 16

Final deadline for Fourth of July Parade applications is Friday, the 16th. (Late fees will incur.) Volunteer signups are also available via the same link. We look forward to hosting an exciting, safe, and fun Fourth of July!!

PC MARC VIDEO

Parkites love exercising in the great outdoors, but we also love exercising inside quite a bit, too! Luckily for us, we have a world-class workout facility at City prices: the Municipal Athletic Recreation Center. The MARC offers every activity under the sun, including pickleball, tennis, an indoor track, full weight room, swimming, and every manner of fitness classes. Watch this video (the ninth in a series highlighting Council's priorities) to learn about everything the MARC has to offer.Special thanks to MARC staff for their enthusiasm and help in making the video.